Ephrata girl inspires crowd at cancer event

Cancer support in the Basin grows with a little help from friends

MOSES LAKE – February 1 was special for the Basin’s community of cancer patients and their supporters as approximately 500 people attended the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation’s annual Country Sweethearts benefit banquet, auction and dance.

The event was a huge success with approximately $195,000 raised, according to organizer and cancer foundation Executive Director Angel Ledesma. It was made more memorable by a spectacular young fundraiser, Rebecca Wiser, from Ephrata.

Nine-year-old Rebecca began raising money for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation in December of 2018 when she wanted to do something for those around her. She chose the cancer foundation because of the impact that cancer has had on her own life. Her grandmother died from cancer in 2015, and her adopted grandmother has been battling cancer for approximately eight years.

The staff of the cancer foundation has been inspired by Rebecca and asked her to share what she is doing at the banquet. Before the event, she had raised more than $900. But, as the evening progressed, that number quickly rose. After speaking to the hundreds in the audience, individuals came up to her and donated money to her efforts.

It was also suggested that a donation amount be set up in her name during the Raise the Paddle portion of the event. Raise the Paddle is a time, after the auction, when people can donate money to the foundation. During this years Raise the Paddle, the Darlene Wallace Family Foundation donated $25,000. Other individuals donated amounts such as $100, $500 and $1,000.

For Rebecca, the $50 amount was chosen. Auctioneer Chuck Yarbro, who facilitated the auction and Raise the Paddle, brought Rebecca back up on stage and coached her as she raised more money.

Overall, Rebecca raised $2,930 in the course of the evening. Of that, $2,100 was raised during Raise the Paddle.

“We wanted to make sure she got to add that to her total,” Ledesma said. “She is incredible.”

As an added bonus, Rebecca was able to auction off a last-minute addition to the auction – a Grant County Sheriff’s Experience. The package, which was thrown in at the last minute by Sheriff Tom Jones, sold for $5,000.

“It was really cool,” Rebecca said in a later interview. “I really enjoyed the speech. It was so cool to see all those people donate money. After my speech, all these people came and donated money to me because I inspired them. I thought that it was really cool being able to be the auctioneer and have people raise their paddles for me.”

This is the 11th year that the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation has held a banquet fundraiser.

“It keeps growing,” Ledesma said. “Every year we have increased.”

Last year was the first year that the foundation held the event in the Commercial Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Approximately 440 people attended that year. This year, organizers added five more tables, and attendance was about 500 people plus volunteers.

“It is an incredible night with incredible people,” Ledesma said. “It is so inspiring.”

The proceeds from the evening fund the various cancer support programs that the foundation has. Approximately 50 percent of what the foundation does is provide gas cards to people traveling out of town for cancer treatment. The foundation also has a meal program and provides special services on a case-by-case basis. It facilitates a support group and provides wigs and hair coverings. It sponsors the People For People Health Express Shuttle that takes patients to Wenatchee for treatment. It also partners with other groups to provide cancer patients with additional services.

“We do anything we can to make it a little easier,” Ledesma said.

According to Ledesma, right now the foundation serves 140 active clients.

Moses Lake resident Hazel Hagy was in attendance at the Country Sweethearts event Feb. 1. Her husband is an 18-year cancer survivor.

“I wish there had been an organization like this when he was going through it (cancer),” Hagy said. “I think what the cancer foundation is doing, not just for Moses Lake, but for Grant and Adams counties, is nothing short of heroic.”

Hagy appreciates that the funds raised by the cancer foundation stay local and don’t go to an administrative fund that is accessed by the entire country.

“The funds stay right in our county,” Hagy said. “That is one of the reasons I am so supportive. We are helping our neighbors in the Basin.”

She pointed out that the people who volunteer at the cancer foundation take it seriously, including making meals for cancer patients.

“This is a very generous community,” Hagy said.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].